Hello! As I mentioned in my profile, the next few chapters will have moments when it strays from the original canon story, so I apologize in advance for those who prefer it staying true to the television series.
Still, after my first lemon chapter, I'm a little disappointed at the lack of response (though thank you to Slothplatoon for your ever reliable reviews). I was hoping for some insight from my readers: did it work, or should I stay away from it? Where can I improve? _
In any case, here is the new chapter, and in record time too!
Please READ AND THEN REVIEW!
You wake to sunlight on your face and the feel of Castiel's warm body pressed to your back. His one arm is wrapped around you while his other hand traces circles down your side. You inhale deeply, relishing his scent and basking in the afterglow of the previous night. The memories bubble against your consciousness like a dream.
When the opportunity first presented itself, you had every intention to please the angel, to have him spiraling into ecstasy under your discretion. And yet, somehow, the night ended up with you being the one ravished instead.
The feel of his tongue on your skin, the caress of his fingers in the most intimate places, and the way he filled you, so hot and immense he had you crying out his name and other obscenities you can't even remember. You had let him love you from above, from below, from behind… A blush burns across your face and well to your ears. You never realized how much stamina an angel had.
Castiel seems to sense your wake and moves to press his lips to the side of your neck. You sigh with pleasure. Although… you are still a bit miffed at how easily you were overwhelmed. You were supposed to be the veteran here; you certainly had more experience, but this rookie had you utterly conquered. And as enjoyable as losing the battle had been, your pride seems to have suffered for it. However, you've known that he's a quick learner… for all those kisses you've shared… though you may have momentarily forgotten. And besides, it's not like you can't regain your esteem from a rematch… You turn to face your angel, sending him a playful look of determination.
The light of dawn shines across his visage, illuminating the dazzling blue hue of his irises. Your insides melt, disintegrating all your previous thoughts. He's just so… beautiful.
Castiel leans forward and you receive his kiss with vigor. He lets out a throaty chuckle at your excitement. "Good morning."
"Good morning," you reply, curling against him like a cat after a big bowl of cream. "How long was I asleep?"
He folds his arms around you, rolling so you're beneath him again. He nuzzles your neck, trailing his mouth up and down your throat. You feel the prickling stubble of his facial hair as it teases your skin. You let out a giggle. You feel so pampered.
"Possibly an hour or so." He breathes across your skin, rippling heat through your insides. "It's still early. You should rest more." His hands run down your body, sliding across your hips and thighs while he nibbles at your neck, making it mighty difficult for you to rest. You know he knows this, of course.
"Funny. You say that, but why do I get the distinct impression you're suggesting something else."
You feel him smile against your throat. He raises his head above yours, his eyes burning softly as he gazes at you. The heat surges through you again. He lowers his mouth slowly over yours, feathering kisses that barely touch you. You arch your back, pushing against his weight as you're lured by the bait. Those teasing caresses are driving you mad.
He obliges you for a moment, only to pull back and touch his mouth to your forehead. He then shifts his weight off you but still keeps both arms firmly locked around you. Despite the restraints, you're quite comfortable, albeit scorching with desire.
"Sleep," he commands, "you should recover as much energy as possible while you can." Though his voice is calm, desperation flickers through his gaze, passing so quickly the calm smile he now wears almost fools you.
You raise a hand to his face and trace a finger between the center of his brow, smoothing out the crinkle. He closes his eyes at your touch. He takes your hand and pulls it to his lips, kissing the inside of your wrist. Castiel is being unusually affectionate. You don't know if this behavior is because of last night or of what is to come today. You had hoped your actions would imbue the angel with more optimism, or at least offer another incentive to succeed. Mayhap your precaution worked a little too well? The words "what's wrong" linger on your tongue, but why ask when you already know? Instead, you abandon the thought for something more practical. Breaking free of his arms, you pull upright and seat yourself upon his torso. Your hands splay across his chest, and you grin down at his look of surprise.
"I don't know about you, but I'm actually quite rested." You place a finger on his lips when he begins to protest. "I already told you I don't need as much sleep as humans. An hour is more than enough. Besides, I garner most of my strength from the sun, which I'm getting plenty of right where I am. …Almost too much…" Your eyes trail to the side while your finger slides from his lips to his throat. Castiel shivers beneath your touch. "I wonder what I should do with all this extra energy…"
Castiel moves so fast you let out a gasp. Before you realize, he's straightened to your eye-level and with his hands on your thighs, moved you so you're straddling his hips instead. You blink at his sudden proximity and he grins. You smile, passing your hands slowly up his chest, over his broad shoulders and around his neck. He brings his mouth next to your ear and whispers, "I may have a few ideas."
Your grin at the guttural baritone of his voice. "Pray, do enlighten me—"
His lips crash over yours before you can finish. His hands slide to your buttocks, lifting you then lowering you again, continuing where you left off hours before…
When you finally gather enough lucidity to note the time, there are only 15 minutes left before you're both due to meet the others. You had caught the numbers off the screen of your cellphone, laying on the floor a foot from the bed, and immediately pull yourself off of Castiel. The angel is less than happy with your retreat and snatches your hands just as you start to pull away. You call out his name in warning, but he only pulls you down and pins you, covering your mouth with his. As delighted as you are by his actions, you know your priorities and try to urge some rationality into him.
Castiel is obstinate as ever, and if you aren't so hard-pressed to remind him of today's significance, you'd be shocked by how adamant he seems on ignoring his obligations. Before long, it becomes a tug-of-war wrestle on the bed until you finally have him pinned under you.
"Cass! We're going to be late!" you half-shouted at him with severity.
Focus finally returns to his gaze, and the two of you start to dress. After you've made yourself decent, you look over to see Castiel fumbling with his tie and his hair thoroughly tousled from all the times you've run your fingers through it. You bite back a smile and the trickling longing deep in your belly to help him with the tie.
As your fingers move deftly across the blue fabric, you can feel his gaze on you. You do your best to ignore it and lace the tie into its appropriate knot. You may have used more time than necessary and you're ashamed to admit the accidental brush of your fingers across his throat might not have been that accidental.
Fast as lightning, you're maneuvered backward, crushed between Castiel's chest and the wall. His mouth moves so rushed and violently against yours that you hardly have a chance to speak.
"What… about… the others?" you ask between breaths.
Castiel rips the jeans down your legs. You felt the zipper break but you don't care. When your legs are bare, he pulls your thighs past his waist, his chest pressing hard against your breasts. "They'll just have to wait." He sets his mouth on yours, silencing you of any more objections.
…
"You're late."
Only by 30 minutes… you think. Bowing your head with chagrin, you apologize in earnest. "We're sorry! Really. Lost track of time." You will yourself not to blush.
With appetites temporarily satiated, you knew you'd be facing Dean's snark. You curse yourself for being so weak-willed to Castiel's constant temptations, at which point, you begin to realize even if he didn't know how to work the tie, you've seen him fix his attire with a simple wave of his hand.
Pursing your lips, you shoot the angel an accusing glare, which he immediately dodges by looking away, feigning ignorance.
That sly little… He was pretending! …And you completely fell for it.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever." Dean rolls his eyes and tosses a duffle bag your way. You catch it before setting it into the trunk of the Impala.
Jo passes you with a suggestive look and quivering lips, trying to hold back her laughter. She carries a heavy case of ammo towards the SUV where Ellen is re-checking the inventory.
"It's fine. Don't worry about it. We're not finished packing anyways." Sam says from beside you. His gaze is focused on the magazines he's loading, but you don't miss the sly smirk he has on his face. Finished with the third weapon, he locks it back down in its compartment. "Do you have all your gear prepared?" he asks after giving you a once-over.
Unlike the others, you have maintained your no gun preference. And now that you no longer require the habitual forms of nourishment, you really don't have much to prepare. You do, however, have the pouch of seeds that Maggie delivered tied at your waist. You pat the small sack and grin in reply. "Yep. Got all I need right here."
Dean walks over to you with what seems to be the last of what's needed. He yanks open the back passenger door and throws a backpack in. "What's in there, marbles? Gonna challenge the devil to a game of keepsies?"
You decide to ignore his snide tone. From the persisting pinch in his brows, you imagine he's under the effects of a hangover. "They're plant seeds," you answer with a tightlipped smile.
"So the plan is to scare him away with your planting abilities?" He quirks an eyebrow and raises his hand in mock alarm. "Look out! She's got a garden shovel, and she's not afraid to use it!"
Sam's shoulder quakes with suppressed laughter.
"For goodness sake," you mutter under your breath. Taking a step forward, you press your palm to his chest and glare at him. "El'ital."
Dean bristles at your contact, and no sooner does the word leave your lips, the air around him shifts. Droplets of water begin to form across his skin, quickly disappearing as his pores absorb the moisture. When you retract your hand, Dean is staring at you with surprise.
You fold your arms. "Better?"
Dean blinks. He then pats his hands down his body, feeling for any abnormalities. "Ugh… yeah. Loads. Thanks."
Sam's body relaxes. "What did you do?" he asks.
"I'm may not be a healer, but I can still fix hangovers."
Bobby wheels himself out from the garage just as you mouth the last syllable. He doesn't seem to have heard.
Sam slaps a hand on your shoulder in acknowledgment and moves to give the old hunter his farewell. Dean and Ellen slam the trunks of their cars down at the same time, then follow in Sam's footsteps. Before long, Bobby is crowded with everyone's attention and starts to scowl with bashful impatience. "All right already, get your asses on the road for goodness sake."
As previously decided, you get into the Impala with Sam and Dean while Castiel rides with Jo and Ellen.
Transporting everyone via spells is possible, but without the knowledge of what would be waiting on the other side, the suggestion was quickly abandoned. And to avoid ambush as well as provide additional protection, Dean specifically demanded for Castiel to go in the other car. If anything happened, he'd be able to whisk the two women to safety in an instant while you would provide sufficient security for the Winchesters. Castiel didn't seem too thrilled with the idea, and as he climbs into the back seat of the SUV he looks over to you with his lips pressed in a dismal line.
You smile apologetically at him, adoring the pout. You had given his hand a reassuring squeeze before separating, but you wish you kissed him instead.
When you slam the door shut, you roll down the window to wave goodbye to Bobby.
"Y'all better stay alive! Ya, hear?"
Sam and Dean give their own waves before Dean pulls the Impala off the driveway and down the road. Jo and Ellen follow soon after. You watch the old hunter from the back window before the car turns again and cuts Bobby out of view. When you face the front, you catch Dean's smirk off the rearview mirror. You raise an eyebrow at the look.
"What?"
"So… how'd it feel deflowering an angel?"
Of course, the man couldn't wait to taunt you. He must've thought you were trying to peek at Castiel through the back window instead of Bobby.
Sam shifts in his seat, looking like he can't decide whether to feel bothered or amused.
You send Dean an impassive stare. "Like I died and went to Heaven."
The hunter gives a snorting laugh. "How appropriate."
You roll your eyes at the childishness and glance at the passing landscape. You'll soon be exiting Sioux Falls, and with how small the town is, much of the area is surrounded by forestry.
"I'll need to give my props to Cass, didn't know he had it in him." Dean snickers. "Seeing how he was with Chasity and all…"
Your eyes flash at the mention of the name, drudging up memories of the night you caught the two of them at the call house. You suppose that must be the name of the screaming woman that stomped away from Cass in the hall. Too bad for her… Your lips twitch into a smirk.
"And what about you, Dean? Were you able to give some meaning to Jo's last night on Earth?"
Sam splutters into laughter while all humor drains from Dean's face. You catch his scowls in the mirror and he quickly snaps at his brother to shut the hell up. You narrow your eyes at his expression. There is a clear annoyance and maybe a touch of humiliation, but mostly acceptance.
No way.
You shoot Sam a look of surprise. He catches it and returns a smug shrug. Your mouth out a silent "wow" as you glance past your shoulder to the car behind you.
You had noticed Jo's attraction to Dean upon minutes of meeting her, and you know Dean must be aware of it on some level. You guess the man was caught somewhere between viewing her as a sister and viewing her as a woman. Your respect for Jo rises to new heights, God knows you certainly weren't resilient enough.
Sighing, you fumble around your jacket until you find the hidden pocket you had tailor-made. You usually keep a few bills in there in case of emergencies. Digging around, you find two fifties and pull it out. Sam has already stretched out an open palm between the space of the two front seats. You slap the bills into his hand a little spitefully and frown at his brother. "You disappoint me, Dean."
"What the—" He jerks bewildered looks from you to Sam. "Did you guys make a bet about me?"
"Yep," Sam replies, sliding the bills into his pocket with pompous satisfaction, completely profiting at the expense of his brother.
"And you bet against me?"
"Yeeeep."
Dean glares at the man next to him, a face full of betrayal and umbrage.
You give an offhanded shrug. "So much for your game."
"You guys are assholes."
That earned a genuine laugh out of you and Sam.
…
As the journey progresses, the levity trickles away in exact correlation to your destination's approach. When Carthage comes into view, you sharpen and spread your senses, trying to feel for what awaits you. Your expression strains when something repels you.
"What is it?" Sam asks, "What are you sensing?"
You grip onto the edge of the driver's backrest, trying to push past the hazy barrier that obstructs your senses. When you can't find any openings, you pull back with a frustrated sigh. "I know something's there, but I'm blocked." Your jaw clamps. "It feels like the same spell Crowley used, but stronger. It's covering the entire area."
"Not exactly a good start," Dean mutters.
"Maybe you'll be able to sense something once we're in the town," Sam offers more optimistically.
You nod, but the idea doesn't seem convincing to you.
As the Impala pulls off the freeway and onto the main road, your eyes widen at the sight.
"There's no one here. It's like a ghost town," Sam says as he and Dean scan the surroundings.
The windows and walls of passing buildings are covered with posters and signs. Large bolded letters of "Have you seen this person? Please Call" and strange religious annotations fill your vision. But other than the vacancy of human activities, the town would still appear relatively normal to the average eye.
"Where the hell is everyone? There are only supposed to be six people missing."
Your lips quiver. With a voice barely above a whisper, you say, "…Reapers."
Dean and Sam jerk their attention to you. "Where?" Sam asks.
"Everywhere…"
Horror strikes his visage.
You try to count the number of reapers present but they're endless. The pit of your stomach crawls with dread. You can't remember the last time you saw so many…. Your expression grows dark. No… that's a lie. Weren't there just as many reapers when the Wikkōn decimated those human cities and villages? But something's different. Your eyes scan the stoic faces of these apparitions, all cloaked in the same black garbs. Every reaper is immobile, standing with perpetual patience and an odd sort of reverence. Why are they so motionless? Even the great gathering of reapers during that time wandered every so often. Your instincts prick with tension.
Dean clicks his tongue. Glowering through the front window, he pulls the car into a stall in the middle of the road. He takes out his cellphone, scowling when the words "no service" appear on the screen. He stretches his arm out the window, raising the phone into the air to see if he can catch anything.
Sam looks over to his brother. "You getting a signal?"
Dean flips the phone shut. "No, nothing. Just great."
You frown, but you can't help admiring the fastidious planning. It'd be quite the efficient maneuver for Lucifer to cut out the cell towers; isolate the town from the rest of the world.
Ellen pulls the SUV next to the Impala with the window down on Jo's side. "Place seem a little empty to you?"
You catch Castiel's gaze through the tinted windows. From the grave expression and the back and forth glances, he's seeing the same thing you are.
Dean gives a distracted nod of acknowledgment, keeping a vigilant eye on the scenery. "We're gonna go check out the PD." His sends a quick but sharp look to the angel. "You guys stay here— see if you can find anybody." Protect them, he's saying.
Castiel nods, unbeknownst to the two women in the front seats.
A part of you nags to stay together, but you can't sense any immediate danger… You clamp down on your jaw as Dean pulls the Impala away, keeping a mask of wary determination over the rumbling panic that quivers just beneath.
Ellen and Jo are capable hunters and Castiel is just as formidable without his powers. They'll be fine. They'll be fine.
Dean puts more and more distance between you and the others. You can feel the block shroud the signal of their energies, and before your eyes can lose them, you already can't feel them. It seems, your senses still function within the limits of a certain radius. A few meters at most? Disheartening, but it still provides you with a much-needed cushion of time to react. One exception captures your awareness. Despite the disorienting, invisible fog, Castiel's light remains bright in your mind. And as long as you can feel him, your heart beats steady.
How curious this effect is. You aren't sure why you can constantly pinpoint his presence. Is it because of how you feel about him; because he's so important to you? The suggestion seems laughable even to your own mind. If this is so, then why can't you sense Dean or Sam with the same heightened acuity? Why can't you sense Maggie or the other guardians even when you're tied so intrinsically to each other through your oaths? You can't find a rational reason for this occurrence, and yet the link stays strong. What makes Castiel so special?
The Impala swerves by the curb in front of the local police station. The street remains void of people. Not even birds or the odd stray can be found. Everything is eerily silent.
As the three of you get out of the car, Sam looks to your grimacing expression. "Anything?"
You let out a strained sigh and drop your hand from your temple. You reply with a grim shake of your head. Just as you feared, the barrier persists. Worse still, even as you're within its borders, the static that hinders your senses has only grown. It's like trying to force through layers and layers of bubble wrap, every time you push, the image beyond only distorts then pushes you back.
You enter the station, scanning the building for signs of life. The desks and counters are placed in functional arrangements. The computer screens are on but asleep. Paperwork and various office supplies are strewn about the surfaces, but nothing's out of place.
"Is anyone here?!" Dean shouts across the room. You wait, but only silence answers. Everyone continues to search, rifling through the paperwork and computer screens for some kind of explanation.
You find an open tab of surveillance recordings of the building. Rewinding to the data a few days past, you watch as the officers and staff move about and behave as any normal police station would. You fast forward the video.
As the hours rolled into the night, more and more people left, leaving only the overnight crew to man the station: two officers and one desk member. They worked and walked about normally. When the hours grew to morning, their interactions with each other increased and they started to make a few phone calls. At around 6AM, the two officers leave. An hour later, so does the desk member. After that, all that appears on the screen is the same vacant office you see now. You stop the video.
"Anything?" Dean asks you and Sam when he returns from the upper floor.
Sam shakes his head. "There's no sign of panic or anything else unusual. It's as if everyone just got up one day and left."
"The tapes didn't tell me much either. All it shows are the staff leaving after their shifts. The last crew seemed a bit confused when no one came back to replace them. The time stamp was three days ago. The rest is just… empty building." You walk out from behind the front desk and join them.
Dean rubs the back of his neck in annoyance. He sighs. "Didn't find much upstairs either. There were a few nudie mags hidden in odd places, some contraband. Everything else was normal in the evidence room."
You turn towards the entrance, looking past the windows. A few meters away, you feel Ellen and Jo's energies approach. You don't know why Castiel isn't with them. "Jo and Ellen are here."
Walking out with the brothers, you greet the oncoming vehicle.
"Station's empty," Dean says when the car stops in front of him.
Jo lowers her head to meet your gazes next to her mother. "So's everything else."
You look away from the women, tracking your focus in the direction of your angel's energy. It's coming from further west of the town. Your mind trails back to the map you memorized. It's mostly old apartments, a few townhouses.
"Have you guys seen Cass?"
You snap your attention to Ellen. She doesn't know? How did they separate?
"What?" Sam is just as bewildered. "He was with you."
"Nope, he went after the reapers."
Dean swears under his breath. "God dammit, Cass."
You look over to the brothers in alarm. If he left, he shouldn't have stayed away for more than a moment. You steel yourself. His light is still strong, nor has the connection flickered or faded. You lower yourself to the women's eyelevel. "How long has he been missing?"
Ellen and Jo exchange a look. "He left almost right after you did."
You clench your teeth. He definitely should have returned by now.
Sam sees your strained expression and lays a hand on your shoulder. "Don't worry. We'll find him."
You nod and swallow back the anxious lump in your throat. "I can still sense his energy. It's coming from that general direction." You point down past the buildings.
Sam's brows pucker. "You can sense him?" He's about to say something but decides against it. "That's good news. Lead the way," he glances at the others for affirmation. "We'll leave immediately."
With all the weapons and ammunition everyone can carry, you tread the streets on foot, leading the group at the helm. With one of your security measures gone, it's now up to you to provide protection. As much as you want the speed of the vehicles, even if all of you were pushed together into one car, you aren't sure you would be able to provide ample defense moving at such a velocity and with your senses blind. At least, on foot, it'll be easier to detect approaching threats.
"Well, this is great." Dean grunts behind you, "We've been in town for 20 minutes and we've already lost the angel up our sleeve." You know the man is angry with Castiel. He had wanted the angel to stick by Ellen and Jo at all times, but declaring his intentions out loud would only have insulted the two huntresses. And so you bite your tongue as well.
"You think maybe Lucifer…" Sam trails off. He wanted to ease some of the blame off of the angel for your sake but realized half-way the alternative is much more painful.
Dean tsks, completely oblivious to your emotions. "I don't know what else to think."
You bristle when the dark energy assaults your senses. Veering to the right, you throw out your arms as a physical barrier. "Stop! Get behind me!"
Your allies are just as shocked by your sudden shriek. With weapons raised, they shuffle backward. Their battle ready senses hone in on the target standing only meters down the intersection from you. You don't understand how you missed it. They're in the middle of the road in broad daylight with nothing to obscure them. Did they teleport? You shake away the useless thoughts. There's six… no… eight of them. Bodies made of pulsing black energy, deranged empty eyes and snarling muzzles, stand in wait. Each dark creature paws avidly into the ground beneath them, their madness and bloodlust just barely reigned back. What to do? How do you protect your friends? A number of possible spells races across your mind, your fingers twitch towards the seed pouch.
"There you are." A woman of a petite figure walks forward from behind two raging beasts. Her clothing is ordinary; leather jacket, violet blouse, and jeans, but the attire emphasizes a certain edge to her appearance. She looks to be in her mid to late twenties, oval face, framed with rolling chestnut hair and bright eyes. You would even say she's pretty. If only her visage isn't twisted by the malevolent shadow puppeteering her body.
"Meg!" Sam growls, momentarily distracting you. You think you've heard the name before. Was she the one responsible for Bobby's paraplegia?
Meg grins. "You shouldn't have come here, boys."
Your back pricks from the sudden rage bursting from one of the members behind you.
"Yeah? Well, I could say the same thing for you." Dean immediately pushes past your arm and raises the Colt to the woman's face.
"No!" You grab the man's shoulder to stop him. He tries to shake you off.
Meg chuckles darkly. "You should listen to your friend, Dean-o. I didn't come alone."
A growl rips out from the dark beast beside her. It rakes the ground in anticipation.
Everyone stumbles back, bodies tenser than twisted steel.
Dean visibly falters, but years of hunter experience kicks in and false bravado strengthens his voice. "Hellhounds," he says as casually as he can, but the flicker of grimace gives him away. His display of forced nonchalance seems to entertain the demoness, and her eyes shine at the spectacle.
"Yeah, Dean. Your favorite."
You take the opportunity and snake your fingers into the pouch at your waist while Dean distracts her. You dig out a dozen seeds, clutching them tight in your fist as your mind runs a mile a minute to formulate an escape. A part of your attention has been spent tracking the hellhounds' movements. Two of them have already started to circle behind your group. The ones poised near your front snarl and bark.
Clever. The hellhounds are invisible to human eyes, but their footfalls are heavy. The noise induces fear in your group and distracted the others from the encroaching sneak attack from behind. Your fist full of seeds trembles at readiness. There's four hellhounds in front of you, two to the sides and two in the back. You'd have to time this correctly. You glance back at the others, signaling for them to watch their six.
"C'mon boys. My father wants to see you." A hint of sobriety leaks into her voice, but her face is smug with confidence. She thinks she's won.
Sam angles his back further towards the group, defending the side at your warning. "I think we'll pass. Thanks." He shouts out.
"Your call. You can make this easy…" The edges of her lips twitch with excitement. "Or you can make it really, really hard." Please make it hard, her eyes seem to say.
Dean glances at you and you give a subtle downward tilt of your head. Your attention returns to your assailants as you leave Dean to relay the silent instructions to the rest of the group. You feel the immediate coil of preparation from every hunter at your back.
Meg sets her gaze on you and a knowing smirk appears. So she's aware of what you are, possibly even of what you can do to an extent. You'll just have to see how well she wears that confidence once Dean gives the signal.
"When have you known us to ever make anything easy?" Dean turns back to Meg, and he clicks a bullet into the chamber.
Meg's grin widens. Your muscles tense. Dean holds his position then abruptly switches the aim to the hellhound at her feet.
Click and Boom. The bullet hits the beast's leg, sending it howling in agony.
"Run!" Sam yells out.
You unlock the floodgates in your body, sending a tidal wave of energy into your fist. Smashing the hand into the asphalt, you roar out, "Esséhalm ius világ, Infectatum!"
A ripple of energy surges through the earth. The hellhounds yip and howl when the power rips through them. Meg staggers from the out-flux, but when nothing seems to happen, she straightens and barks out a laugh.
The ground beneath you rumbles, and just as the grin begins to fall from Meg's face, a jagged chasm rips across the street, shooting towards the demoness.
Meg jumps back, narrowly missing the fissure.
More and more rifts carve out under your hand, slicing through the earth as if it could no longer contain your weight. You can taste the silent shock in the air, but your senses are much too overwhelmed by the boundless power flooding your veins. This is strength, this is dominance, this is exhilaration.
The earth cracks. You catch the look of fear in the demon's eyes before thick twisting arms burst from below, soaring meters into the air and whipping serpentine limbs in every direction. When the growth finally stills, the creature has accumulated monstrous dimensions. The violent whipping slows, revealing its true appearance. Robust arms become branches, blooming with lush green trails, and serpentine limbs become dense roots, slithering and gouging into the earth. A massive willow has emerged, towering over the nearby buildings with its sheer size and its body curling protectively after the four hunters on the ground.
"Inhakïm!" You cry, standing atop one of the thickest roots at the base and willing the colossal plant to bend to your command. Another rumble thunders through the sky as if the willow has cried out itself. The branches surge forth and slash at the multiple hellhounds. The beasts snarl and howl when they're caught, their bodies twisting and muzzles snapping as the branches coil and strangle.
You set your sight on the demoness, and she flinches when she catches your gaze. Meg stumbles back and quickly whirls around to escape. You jerk your arm towards her and a trio of roots shoot after the demon.
"Dean!" The cry stops you cold, and all previous elation washes away. You search for your friends, eyes widening when you find a hellhound on the older Winchester. A buckshot blows it back. How had you missed it? You were sure you got them all.
"Jo! Stay back!" Dean pleads, but the woman continues to pummel the crazed beast with more rounds.
Your eyes flit to the number of hellhounds seized by the willow and horror crashes into you. There are much more than eight. Five additional dark beasts circle your friends and the closest one is leaping for Jo. You thrust a hand forward, but the willow answers a fraction too late. The hellhound tears the young huntress into the ground and sinks its ragged teeth into her abdomen, ripping blood and flesh into the air.
A shrieking cry splits the sky, flooding your eardrums with pain and agony.
"No!" Ellen screams.
More shots ring out before the branches thrash the hellhound off of Jo. Dean sprints towards her and yanks her into his arms. They race for the bricked building meters away, Sam and Ellen shooting wildly around their perimeter as Dean scrambles through the door. You rush after them, bounding through the air and landing at their side in a single leap.
"Get inside!" You yell at Sam as he continues to wait for you. He doesn't refuse you a second time and disappears through the threshold. You launch your arms forward and wrench them back, drawing the titan body of the willow to you. The ground quakes under its movement, its roots diving and exploding through cement in its crawl. You continue to concentrate a portion of the limbs on deflecting the remaining hellhounds, keeping the monsters at bay. When the willow's main body finally reaches you, you conduct the trunk to bow over the building, winding every thick green vine, branch, and root around the bricked exterior. As the plant closes in, shrouding the building in a cocoon of protection, you retreat back through the open door, locking it shut when the plant stills. Darkness encompasses the shelter, not even a crack of light reaches through. Outside, you can still hear the enraged snarls and thrashing, but they're distant and might as well be futile.
An arm yanks you back as Sam pushes past you with a ripped bag of de-icing salt. You hear the sound of sand like scattering as he pours the contents by the door, but your attention is with Dean.
"Help her!" He pushes you towards the woman sprawled against the back of the room, weak and bleeding onto the tiles. Her mother hovers over her, placing layers and layers of cotton bandages over her wound. She holds down against the gash with trembling hands, watching helplessly as the bottom layers soak through.
"It's all right. Just breathe, honey. Just breathe."
"I'm fine," Jo slurs out, her voice nearly incoherent. The woman's face is leached of all color and the previous vibrant hue of her lips has turned to ashen gray. Jo breathes in slow whimpering gasps, and even as her lifeblood drains away, she does her best to hide the pain.
Ellen tears her eyes away from her dying child and stares at you with desperation. "Is there anything you can do?"
The anguish in her voice lurches you back to reality. You drop to your knees at Jo's right side and survey the damage. "Can you lift the bandages? I need to see."
There's a silent beat before Ellen starts to move again. With shaking hands, she peels away the edge of the dressing and reveals the guzzling macabre underneath. Bits of skin hang uselessly at the flayed edges, nerve endings sliced and quivering. The hellhound had been able to dig quite deeply into her abdomen, exposing the lower bits of her ribs and intestine. You grit your teeth as the mess.
First things first. You'll need to stop the blood flow, but there are so much blood and torn flesh you can't make out where most of the leak is coming from. From the looks of the bandages, she'll lose consciousness soon. You place a hand over her core, just above the wound, and send a flood of energy through her body. What normally would have elicited a physical reaction, Jo barely seems to notice. She must be number than you hoped. You clench your eyes shut, focusing on tracking the flow of energy. Your aura swims across her organs and trickles into her veins. When the signal echoes back, you're able to gather an overall assessment of her condition. Luckily, the abdominal aorta was spared, but the renal arteries weren't so fortunate.
You grab onto Ellen's hand to secure her attention. Her face is just as pale as her daughter's. "Can you trust me to take over?"
Her lips quiver. "Do right by her, please."
You nod, and the woman takes her hand away. You immediately pull the bandage off and reveal the gash for the room to see. Harsh gasps sound from behind you.
"This might hurt," you mumble in case Jo is still lucid. Pressing your fingers to the largest leak, you send a wave of heat through your hand, burning the ends and cauterizing the arteries. Jo lets out a frail gasp. You then move on to close the remaining veins until your hands are slick with red. You've now bought yourself a bit more time. Next, the gash needs to be covered to lock in moisture and stave off infection. But, you can't regrow cells. You could take what you can from the surrounding flesh and the hanging bits near the edge but it won't be enough. Your eyes snap to her mother. If you can't regrow cells, why not take them from another?
"What is it?" Ellen asks worriedly.
"I need to recreate some basic coverage over the wound, but I need your skin— your cells to be exact to—"
"Anything!" She answers before you can finish. "As long as you save her."
Sam and Dean come up next to you. "You can use our bodies too—"
You shake your head. "It has to be someone who shares her genetics, or it may cause problems later on. I can't modify DNA or cells on a molecular level."
Ellen grabs hold of your wrist. "I'm willing to give anything. Whatever it takes..."
You nod. "Lift up your sleeve. I'll be taking bits of flesh off your arm. It's not going to be pleasant." When Ellen bares her arm, you lay a bloodied hand over it while your other hovers above Jo's injury. Closing your eyes, you dip into the well of power deep inside your body and lace the energy into the incantation. Healing still remains your weakest skill, yet once again, you find yourself depending on the mediocre ability you bear. However, this time, you'll make sure you'll not fail. The words spiral from your lips, invoking the extraction of resources from one body and transferring them into the mending of another.
Ellen gasps out, but you keep your grip on her arm. You don't break focus, for this spell needs a steady flow of delivery and intricate instruction until the entire process is complete. More and more of Ellen's skin flakes away, revealing tendons and muscle as the spell gnaws up her arm. On Jo's body, the rips of useless flesh have already been integrated into the thin film of membrane that now grows to cover the wound. The soft pink, almost elastic like skin weaves together, taking minute advances. Your mouth continues to move incessantly to carry the spell while your face scrunches in concentration. Minutes tick away, you have no idea how long it's been. An hour? Two? Maybe more. Your mind strains on the healing of Jo's body, suppressing the urge of all other thoughts. When the gash finally closes, you open your eyes.
Ellen is trembling, barely conscious and held upright by Sam who's sitting next to her. Her right arm looks excoriated and shriveled all the way to the shoulder. Under your hand, throbbing red tissue and uneven muscle overlay her bones. It's a gruesome sight and an even more gruesome experience. You're surprised the woman didn't scream. Glancing at her face, you realize Ellen had been biting her lips to hold back the cries. Like mother like daughter. Blood leaks from her mouth.
"Is she gonna be okay?" Ellen asks feebly.
For now, you want to say, but you only nod. Sometime during your spell, Jo drifted into unconsciousness. Though her breathing is still weaker than you prefer, it's steady, as is her heartbeat. Taking your bloodied hand off of Ellen's arm, you move it to her shoulder. Whispering more ancient words, you cover the arm with a temporary seal, numbing her pain but not the function. Ellen sighs and nearly collapses onto Sam when the suffering leaves her.
You retract your hand and let out a sigh of your own. "That should protect your arm for now."
"What about my daughter?"
You glance down to examine your work. Instead of the previously eviscerated lesion, a thin layer of skin masks the opening. Translucent and springy, you can still see the flesh and organs below, however, it will suffice in keeping her body strong enough to start its natural healing process. But Jo still needs a hospital… and a blood transfusion. You push against the ground to stand up, catching Dean's gaze along the way. He reads your expression, and you read the emotions that then laps into his: relief, anger, frustration, and desperation. If Castiel were here, he could have taken the women away to safety. But the angel is still a mile away, his light pulsing strong in the recesses of your mind, and the two female hunters remain trapped and in no condition for battle.
Sam eases Ellen's back next to Jo's, and the mother pulls her daughter's head onto her lap. She strokes Jo's hair with her uninjured hand. Standing up as well, Sam motions for you to regroup a few paces away from the women. It's only now that you realize you're taking refuge inside a convenience store. Racks upon racks of food, products and other miscellaneous but useful materials line the room. Store of convenience indeed.
"So what now?" Sam asks.
You lay a hand on the wall next to you, fatigued more mentally than physically. "They need to go to a hospital. They're in no shape to fight."
"And how the hell do we do that? The only person who can poof in and out has completely taken off." Dean growls.
You glare at him and he sends it right back. He's frustrated, you know, but the acidic comments don't curb your anger any less.
"Salt lines are holding up." Sam interrupts.
Dean eases back, pinning you with one more glare before tearing his eyes away. "Yeah, safe for now."
"What did Bobby say?" Sam continues to lead the discussion onto something more unifying.
Dean leans onto the wall and runs a hand through his hair. "Nothing good. Apparently, our prince of darkness is looking to unleash another horseman, Death, to be exact."
Your eyes widen. "That's why there were so many reapers waiting." You remember the look of reverence on their faces. "Death is their god." You frown. "But why here? Why this town?"
"Remember Cass's history notes? This town's got a past. There was a civil war here, Battle of Carthage. It was a total bloodbath, which is just what's needed to attract Death here."
You mull over Dean's explanation. It all sounds viable. You think back to the notes, trying to recall more details. The history books have dictated that only 200 soldiers were lost and injured. Castiel had revealed it was not the case. Over 6000 men engaged in the battle, and the fighting had been so brutal half the numbers were cut down. And though the skirmishes raged in multiple parts of the town, there was one area where the death toll was highest.
"William Jasper's farm is where the whole thing will go down."
Your eyes flicker to meet Dean's again. "And did Bobby say when?"
"Midnight."
Sam looks at his watch. A little more than two hours. "That's not long." His gaze switches from you and Dean. "Do you guys have any suggestions?" He pauses, his eyes darting to Ellen and Jo. "We could wait here, wait it out. With the willow covering the place, the hellhounds won't be getting in anytime soon."
Dean shakes his head. "We'll only be sitting ducks. We know Lucifer's here. That's why we came. We have to take this chance. And besides, Lucifer probably knows we're here as well, and if we wait here while he raises Death, what are the chances of us surviving for long?"
The same irritation starts to rise in Sam. "What are you proposing we do then? We can't just leave—" Sam looks over to the women before lowering his voice. "We can't leave Ellen and Jo. And we can't take them with us to fight against Lucifer either."
Dean scowls at his brother. "Don't you think I know that?"
Sam purses his lips at the snappish tone.
You raise your head, having gained enough time to deliberate while they argued. "I suppose we can officially call this an emergency."
Dean shoots you an exasperated look for saying something so redundant, but it falters before your calm visage. You dig into your pouch and produce the folded piece of paper. You unravel the parchment and show the boys. "Maggie gave me her summoning seal in case of emergencies. She'll be able to take Ellen and Jo safely out of here and get them to a hospital. Once they're gone, you guys go find Lucifer." You roll back your shoulders and stare at the entrance door. "I'll take care of the hellhounds."
~Dean's P.O.V.~
"Whatever you do, don't let go of my arm."
I watch, dumbfounded, as Maggie, the unbelievably gorgeous and inhuman friend of Alice, carries Jo in her arms like she weighs nothing more than pillow while giving further instruction to Ellen. "You're going to feel some dizziness and vertigo, and you'll think you're drowning. But continue to breathe normally and hold onto me. We're crossing dimensions, and it's easy to get lost."
Just like that day with Gabriel, this woman had shot out of a puddle on the floor, clad in a deep purple dress and high heels. There's a necklace on her neck, made of ruby or garnet (I don't know which) and it dips into the valley between her breasts. I blink and shake my head. Focus, Dean. I lower my gaze to the puddle at her feet. Alice had emptied three water bottles onto the tiles, thrown that paper with the weird markings into it, and summoned her friend—as she called it. Even when I witnessed the entire event, it was still surreal. Just what couldn't these Wikkōn do?
"Sit tight, I'll be back in two shakes."
"No. We can handle the rest. Stay with them. Please."
Maggie looks a bit taken aback, and I agree with her reaction. I don't understand why Alice still doesn't want her to help out with the fight. She says it's to save the ace; keep Maggie hidden from Lucifer until the last moment. I don't know what reality she's living in, but it seems pretty last moment now. I let out a dissatisfied sigh at her decision.
"All right. But I want you to take the necklace around my neck."
I watch as Alice unclasps the chain from the woman's throat and places it around her own. Her expression shows she's just as curious as I am. Maggie explains it's a way for Alice to communicate with her.
"Just call my name, and I'll hear you. Wherever it is, I'll come."
If Alice isn't too bullheaded to rely on you, that is.
Once Maggie reminds Ellen to hold on, she utters a series of foreign words. The puddle becomes dark like there's suddenly a giant hole in the floor. With another splash, they fall through. When I blink again, everything's back to normal. I've seen some pretty weird things in my days, but that, for some reason, still unnerves me. I just hope Jo gets better.
"How much time do we have left?"
I jerk out of my thoughts.
Sam glances at his watch. "About an hour and a half."
Shit. How long did it take to get to William's farm? Goddammit. Should've taken the car. But with the way Alice's freaky tree exploded outta the ground… I shudder. It's okay, my baby's fine. Moving on.
By foot, we should get there in about 45 minutes… if we run? Assuming if we don't meet any more obstacles along the way.
Alice looks to the door at the back corner of the store. "Take the stairs to the roof. When I move the willow, that's your cue to run. Be careful. I'll try to keep the hellhounds off you, but I don't know what else could be lurking out there."
"Are you sure about this? Going against those hellhounds alone?" Sam switches to me with a worried look, hoping I might convince Alice otherwise… which would be completely dumb. What can we possibly do against fifteen hellhounds? She'll probably have a harder time trying to keep the monsters off our asses than if she just had to watch her own back. Besides, I've got no intention to wind up a hellhound's chew toy again.
"We don't have time, remember? We came here with a job to do." Her sharp gaze then becomes sneering. "But hey, if you guys wanna turn tail and run, I can always call Maggie back."
Oh, hell no.
"Just keep those mutts out of our way, and we'll do our job." I snap. Sam still looks uneasy, but he doesn't say anything else.
The woman smirks, aggravating at times, but she sure knows how to get my blood pumping. She walks towards me and Sam with an outstretched hand. Does she want a handshake?
"Don't disappoint me again, Dean."
Butt out of my sex life, woman.
Her eyes flit to Sam. "Same goes for you."
My brother grins and grips her hand. Instead of a handshake, they hold each other's palm like they're about to arm wrestle, the type of greeting Sammy and I sometimes share. The kid's really treating her like a member of the family. He lets go, and Alice turns to me. Ah hell. I grab her hand and grip it the same way. Alice is family, just like how I imagined an annoying cousin.
"Get ready to eat your words, Alice. At midnight, Lucifer's dead."
…
Feral snarls rake my eardrums. Sam and I exchange looks as we wait by the exit. I glance out the glass opening on the door, hand locked on the knob. Behind us, the stairs descend to the floor below. Light from the store stretches weakly up the steps, and it barely grants visibility. Outside, Alice's willow bars the door, and all I see is black from the window.
I swallow, waiting. The moment the tree's gone, we'll make a break for it.
… C'mon, Alice…
I don't know which is making me more anxious, waiting for Alice, or knowing she's gonna fight alone.
The snarls suddenly cut off. Sam and I tense.
A rumble shakes the floor, and a chorus of thundering growls erupt outside. I catch movements slither across the glass, and I immediately twist the knob and push. The door relents, swinging out and slamming on the back of the concrete walls. Sam and I burst from the small landing and leap onto the roof. My eyes widen for a second.
Giant twists of branches and roots the size of steel girders oscillate against the moonlight, looking like monstrous serpents. I tear my eyes away and focus on running. We race towards the back of the building where we find the fire escape. As the sound of boots striking metal rungs drum in my ears, I can hear thrashing and barking overhead, punctured by the occasional reverberation of the entire building. Christ. Alice's gonna take apart this entire street.
Our feet hit the ground and we launch in the direction of the farm. I don't even bother looking back. She's got this, I tell myself.
I remember the time she yelled at Raphael, how angry and fearsome she looked, then to the time she burned the Sluagh to smoke. Alice has proven herself time and time again how capable she is. This shouldn't be any different.
A scream rips out from behind us. It stops us cold.
Sam jerks towards the way we came. "It's Alice!"
I whirl around, the sound of her voice still echoing in my ears. Was it a cry for help?
"We need to go back!"
A flash of light explodes from behind the buildings, shrouded even more by the cover of trees. Go back? Help her? I plant my feet into the ground. A part of me longs to run back, but my gut anchors me down. Was that a cry for help? It sounded more guttural, ferocious even… like a battle cry.
"No." I turn back towards our goal.
"Dean!"
I shoot my brother a glare. "She said she'll take care of it! Trust her."
Sam dithers, and after another beat, he nods his head.
We pick up our pace again, traversing further into the woods. After about thirty minutes of solid running on the uneven forest ground, I'm beginning to wonder if we've gotten lost. But I let out a sigh of relief when I glimpse the clearing a few meters away. Tens of people… no, more than that… fifty… a hundred, stand silent and unmoving beyond the thickets. Eerie, just like how those Sluagh victim's stood.
"Guess we know what happened to some of the townspeople," I say. A particular figure catches my attention. I narrow my eyes. Standing atop an incline, it's the only figure moving.
"Lucifer," Sam hisses.
Huh. I kind of expected something different… Maybe some horns? He just looked so human… and is he digging? With a shovel?
"Last words?"
I glance at Sam. His expression is somber. Yeesh, have a little more faith, will ya… is what I want to say. Instead, "I think I'm good." This isn't the first time we had to confront death, I think I've used up all my last words.
"…Yeah. Me, too."
We look at each other again and nod. Turning, we walk in separate directions.
~Castiel's P.O.V.~
Heat blazes across my vision, and my face jerks away. Blinking, I find myself faced with the spewing flames of holy fire. I glance around my surroundings. How did this happen? I'm trapped. My teeth clamp down.
Alice.
I rack my brain and am immediately greeted by the warm glow that shines near the edges of my consciousness. I can feel her light, and it burns vibrantly to the east of me. The tightness in my stomach unfurls a fraction.
But I've failed my promise to Dean.
I curse my own incompetence. I had told Ellen and Joanna I needed to find the reason for the reapers' appearance. I'd only intended to stay away for a moment… I need to find a way out of here.
I glance about the room, searching the damp and crumbling interior. A basement of some sort? Wooden panels, concrete walls, and pipes fill my vision. A flicker moves in my peripherals, and my eyes flash to the source. I bristle.
"Lucifer."
His light beams beneath human skin, colder and more hollow than any I've ever felt. There's anger there, quiet, but festering, like a volcano just before the rupture. I find myself inwardly recoiling from it.
The vessel he took appears ordinary; a man in his late thirties of average build and height. Lucifer shifts and finally steps out from the shadows. He skims me with his eyes.
"So, I take it you're here with the Winchesters."
My brows twitch. Does he not know? A fledgling hope rises within me. "I came alone."
His eyes narrow. "Loyalty. Such a nice quality to see in this day and age." He paces the floor outside the fire and angles his head. "Castiel, right?"
I nod warily.
His face pinches with rumination. "I'm told you came here in an automobile."
The hope fizzles. He knows. Of course, he knows. But I don't appreciate how he's toying with me. "Yes," I growl out.
"What was that like?" he asks, unfazed by my hostility.
What's the point in these questions? He's trapped me here for a reason. Why stall? My eyes continue to search the room for opportunity. Humor him then.
"Slow..." If he wants to waste time, then let him. "Confining."
He takes another step forward, only a foot away from the fire and studies me with what I read as amused curiosity. "What a peculiar thing you are."
My jaw tightens at the derisive comment, and I suddenly feel like laughing despite myself. I must look pitiful in his eyes. A lone angel with a spluttering candle of grace. How could I possibly measure as a contender? My insides curl with indignation, and I glare at him. And that's when I see him.
The body's complexion is pale, skin stretched fine and waxy over bone and blemished by various sores and rips. He's rotting.
"What's wrong with your vessel?"
"Yes. Nick is wearing a bit thin, I'm afraid." He shrugs. "He can't take me forever, so...
My eyes flash. "You— " I hiss, jerking towards him. The heat from the fire burns me, and I'm stopped. I catch a brief flash of surprise on his face. "You are not taking Sam Winchester, I won't let you."
Lucifer is silent as he continues to stare at me. His surprise has turned into something else… fascination? The gleam in his eyes is manic. The emotion flickers and a calm distance returns to his face. "Castiel, I don't understand why you're fighting me, of all the angels."
I remember how Dean would roll his eyes. "You really have to ask?"
He saunters in front of me. "I rebelled, I was cast out. You rebelled, you were cast out. Almost all of heaven wants to see me dead and if they succeed, guess what?" A sly smile crosses his lips. "You're their new public enemy number one. We're on the same side, like it or not, so... Why not just serve your own best interests? Which, in this case, just happened to be mine."
Never. "I'll die first."
His eyes become cold. "I suppose you will." He turns his back to leave. Yet, when he reaches the exit, he suddenly whirls around. There's a strange smile on his lips. I don't know why, but my body pricks with alarm. "Just… not right now." His smile widens at my expression. "I can see you're confused, so let me explain myself." He strides back to me, pausing as his eyes stare into the far beyond as if to reminisce, as if to find where to start.
"You see, when I first began this war against humanity, there was one species that was a constant thorn in my side. Humans… are feeble-minded, gullible creatures. Offer them a few incentives and they start killing themselves." He laughs, shaking his head, but the humor quickly fades. "Except, every time, just before things could get interesting, those creatures had to show up. The Wikkōn…" his lips curl around the word with loathing, "stopped the wars, settled their disputes, always… and without fail." He spins to address me as if I were an avid audience of his rant. "Can you imagine how frustrating it was to have all your hard work erased over and over again?"
I regard him with disgust.
He pays me no mind and continues. "But humans will be humans, and I knew. All I had to do was wait—What was a few hundred years? And soon, they forgot all about the majesty of the Wikkōn, and then, I swooped in and graciously reminded them."
"You lied and manipulated the humans," I snarl.
"Manipulated, yes. But I never lie." Lucifer's eyes flash. His voice reverberates with dark wrath. "It was the truth, the Wikkōn did live in splendor, and if they wanted, they could easily destroy humanity…" His shoulders begin to shake. "And I was right." He laughs out. "It was so perfect! The Wikkōn betrayed by the very humans they worked so hard to protect. Oh, you should've seen it, Castiel. For beings who claimed to be so peaceful, they sure had an amazing talent for violence and destruction. The way they slaughtered those humans, it was almost an art-form."
I shudder from the reverie in his eyes, the deranged curl of his mouth. He's insane.
"But… good things never last, do they? …Lyss and her three compatriots… guardians they call themselves. Rather arrogant if you ask me." His gaze rises to me again, and a mock apology slips from his mouth. "Oh, sorry. Her name is Alice now, isn't it?"
I freeze.
"It's cute. And give her my congratulations when you see her for me. She's regained all her lost memories. It was only a matter of time before Lilith's spell broke, I knew." Lucifer slides a finger along his jaw. "She was living in a small apartment before she met you, am I right? In Bay City, Michigan? Address 34 Elm Street, unit C?" He shrugs offhandedly. "It's quite quaint. Small, but comfortable."
Something akin to bile rises in my throat. The idea of him standing in Alice's apartment, invading her space… our space, fills me with violent revulsion.
His carefree mask falls away and his eyes bore into mine with the full force of his mania. "I can smell her on you, Castiel."
My insides turn cold, horror piercing through my veins.
"I've searched and searched for a way to break her, to break a guardian. But I never could find that one thing I needed to push her over the edge. All the others, they all had someone that they couldn't part with, someone they needed beyond life… not her, though. She was always so… frustratingly composed. …Not anymore it seems." He chuckles and shrugs. "I could be wrong, of course. Maybe she only has a passing interest in you. We'll see. When she sees you dead at my hands, I wonder how she'll react."
My mouth is agape. What have I done?
"But hey! If she doesn't love you, then she'll be fine. But if she does… then we'll get to see some real entertainment, it's a win-win situation." Lucifer grins, baring his teeth. "I can't tell you how excited I am… to see her soul drenched with madness and agony, writhing as she destroys all that she holds dear…"
"I'll kill you!" I rasp out. My arms launch towards him, but the holy fire slashes through me and hurls me back. "I'll kill you!" What have I done? What have I done?
"Don't worry, Cass. I won't actually kill you. Not yet anyways. But if she does love you, I'll have you see her wondrous transformation to the end." He turns and walks away.
My body shakes, crippling under the violent emotions. No! You can't do this! "LUCIFER!"
I'm enraged, I'm terrified.
"LUCIFER!" Let me out! LET ME OUT!
Alice.
I scream, "LET ME OUT!"